Surrey police say they have ruled out criminality in the death of an Indigenous infant earlier this month.
Surrey RCMP and the B.C. Coroners Service have been investigating the case of Valentino Baker, who died on Aug. 6. The six-week-old infant was under the care of a family friend as part of a plan created by the Ministry of Children and Family Development and his parents, according to the parents’ lawyer Roslyn Chambers.
Sgt. Tammy Lobb confirmed to CBC News Friday that the police investigation has concluded.
Meanwhile, the coroners service said in a Friday statement that its investigation is still open and it cannot provide any further details.
Amid the probes, Chambers raised concerns earlier this month about the circumstances surrounding the infant’s death and the reasons he was not under the parents’ care.
The boy was born on June 25. Two days later, a safety plan was created by social workers with the Ministry of Children and Family Development after a police wellness check at the home of his parents, Chyanna Baker and Andrew Chapman, according to Chambers.
It is not clear what triggered the wellness check.
Valentino was then placed in the care of a family friend, but Chambers has previously said it’s unclear whether anyone from the ministry went to the home or did any sort of background check to ensure it was safe.
Chyanna was also not contacted when her son was found unresponsive or when he was taken to the hospital, according to the lawyer.
Questions remain about the death of an Indigenous infant less than two weeks ago in Surrey. Baby Valentino died in a home where he had been placed by the Ministry of Children and Family Development. As Karin Larsen reports, a ceremony was held in his honour.
Children and Family Development Minister Grace Lore said the ministry cannot comment on specific cases due to privacy concerns. She has previously said that the province receives about 48,000 reports involving concerns about the safety of a child each year.
“The death of a child is an unimaginable tragedy, and my thoughts continue to be with this baby’s family and community,” she said Friday.
CBC News has contacted Chambers for comment about the RCMP’s finding.